Fire-escape.



T. R. ANDERSON.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.28,190B,

Patented July 13, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS R. ANDERSON, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA.

FIREI-ESACAIPE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS R. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oklahoma city, in the county of Oklahoma and State of Oklahoma, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Esoape, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to fire escapes, of a type in which an inclined slideway is provided for the traverse of persons escaping from a burning building; and the purpose hereof is to provide novel details of construction for a fire escape of the character inclieated, which afford a safe, convenient and inexpensive device, that is foldable at the side of the building for protection from the elements, and which may be quickly placed into position for service as occasion may require.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of a building and of the improved fire escape thereon adjusted for use; Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the lower portion of the improved fire escape and of its support on a wall of a building, the device being shown adjusted for use in full lines, and folded against the upright wall of the building by broken lines, and F 8 is a detached enlarged side view of a portion of the fire escape trough, and a front view of an improved bracket support therefor, seen in direction of the arrow ac in Fig. 2.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the fire escape consists of a plate metal trough or slideway 5, that is concavo-convex in cross section, and is supported with its concave side uppermost in an inclined position at the side wall A of a building A, the upper end thereof being positioned near a window, that may, when open, give access to a balcony B. The trough 5 is of a sufficient length to extend near to the ground, so that all persons sliding down in the trough while sitting therein will alight on their feet without injury.

A novel feature in the construction of the trough 5 consists in the formation of tubular Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 28, 1908.

E'atented. July 13, 1909.

Serial No. 455,038.

arm-rests 5 along each side of the same. The provision of the arm rests 5 is of ad vantage, as they greatly stiffen the plate metal body of the trough, and they are of such a size in cross section that in use they will prevent one or more persons from grasping the edge thereof and thus impede or arrest their downward movement, which frightened persons might do; and it will be noted that the tubular arm rests are curved inwardly, so that they afford guard-walls at the sides of the trough, which will effect ively prevent children from falling sidewise from the trough.

The preferred means of securing the improved slideway 5 upon the side wall of a building consists in the provision of a suit able number of similar bracket frames 6,

that are laterally secured at proper intervals on the vertical wall of a building. Upon the horizontal upper portion of each bracketframe 6 an angularly-bent arm 6, formed of plate metal, is secured, these arms all inclining laterally an equal degree in the same direction. On the convex surface of the slideway or trough 5 two angular hinge-plates 7 are secured adjacent to each. other and opposite each bent arm (3 The hinge plates 7, in pairs, are each provided with a flange 7*, each pair thereof loosely embracing a respective arm 6, and are thereon pivoted at a point a near the end of said arm that is nearest to the wall of the building A, as shown for one pair of flanges 7 in Figs. 2 and 3. A lateral brace S is secured by one end on each bracket-frame 6, and thence is extended into contact with the wall A of the building A, whereon the extended end is secured.

As shown in Fig. 1, it is intended, in arranging the improvement for service, that a slideway or trough 5, such as hereinbefore described, be provided for each upper story of a building in proximity to a window, and it is obvious that the occupants of a building having the improved fire escapes, may speedily traverse the trough or troughs down to the ground, in case of fire.

The hinged connection of the improved.

slideway or trough 5 with the supporting bracket-frames 6 permits the trough to be rocked upward on the pivots a, and rest against the side wall of the building. As shown by dotted lines in Figs. 2 a hook b and ring-eye a respectively placed on the wall and trough aflord means for securing the trough in folded adjustment. The folded disposal of the trough 5 prevents it from being filled with snow in winter, but the hook and eye or other means for holding the trough in folded condition may be speediljr released and the trough turned down for service.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A slideway formed of sheet material bent into concavo-convex form, the side edges of the chute being bent into tubular form for the purpose set forth, and means for mounting said slideway for turning movement on its longitudinal axis.

2. A slideway coneavo-convex in cross section and means for supporting said slideway with the concave side upward and means in connection with the slideway and the supporting means for permitting said slideway to turn on its longitudinal axis for the purpose set forth.

- 3. The combination with a building, of a slideway inclined with respect thereto, hinge plates on the convex side of the slideway and projecting at right angles therefrom, and arms secured in vertical position to the building and having an angular portion pivoted to the hinge plate for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS R. ANDERSON.

Witnesses H. G. SoHILLING, J. K. LA RUE. 

